Los Angeles (AFP)
The drama occurred Thursday on the set of "Rust", a western about an accidental homicide in which the American actor stars.
Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and director Joel Souza "were shot dead when Alec Baldwin unloaded a gun used in the filming" of "Rust", Santa Fe County Sheriff's Services said in a press release sent to AFP.
Halyna Hutchins, 42, was evacuated by helicopter to a nearby hospital, where she was pronounced dead by medics.
The director of "Rust", Joel Souza, 48, has meanwhile been admitted to intensive care.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, citing a production spokesperson, it was an "accident" involving a prop that had to be blank loaded.
Sheriff's services also said the incident appears to be related to a weapon used as a prop on set.
The investigation continued on Friday and no prosecution has been initiated at this stage, the statement said.
"Mr. Baldwin was questioned by police," Santa Fe sheriff spokesman Juan Rios told AFP.
"He provided statements and answered some questions. He introduced himself voluntarily and left the building after the interrogations were finished. No prosecution was initiated and no arrests were made.
The local Santa Fe New Mexican newspaper published images of Mr. Baldwin visibly distraught, taken in the parking lot of the set after the tragedy.
The same source specifies that his reporters saw the actor in tears after his questioning by investigators.
A photograph shows a man doubled over, presumed to be Mr. Baldwin.
"The entire cast and crew are totally devastated by today's tragedy, and we send our sincere condolences to Halyna's family and loved ones," the production spokesperson said in a statement. .
"We have stopped shooting the film for an indefinite period and are fully cooperating" with the investigation.
"Rust" is a western written and directed by Joel Souza, starring Alec Baldwin as co-producer and as outlaw Harland Rust, who escapes with his 13-year-old grandson when he is convicted. hanging for murder.
Filmmaker Halyna Hutchins on January 18, 2018 at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City (Utah, United States) Sonia Recchia GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP / Archives
The previous Brandon Lee
Halyna Hutchins lived in Los Angeles (USA).
She was considered a rising star of American cinema.
Born in Ukraine, she grew up in a Soviet military base in the Arctic Circle, according to her website.
The drama that claimed his life took place at Bonanza Creek Ranch, used extensively in westerns, which was cordoned off by police.
Aged 63, Alec Baldwin has made himself particularly popular in the United States in recent years by his imitations of Donald Trump in the famous satirical show "Saturday Night Live".
A photo published Thursday morning on the artist's Instagram account, long before the drama, appears to show him in a bloodstained period costume at the filming location of "Rust", in which also the famous Australian Travis Fimmel participates. for his role as Ragnar Lothbrok in the "Vikings" series.
"Back in person at the office. Damn ... it's exhausting," he captioned the image.
In March 1993, actor Brandon Lee died on the set of the movie "The Crow" after being shot in the stomach.
American actor Alec Baldwin in New York on June 22, 2021 Angela Weiss AFP
The weapon used to fire during a scene at the then 27-year-old son of martial arts star Bruce Lee was believed to contain only blank bullets.
But the autopsy revealed that he had been hit by a .44 caliber projectile that got stuck in the barrel and dislodged by the detonation of the blank cartridge.
The prosecutor in charge of the investigation had concluded with the "negligence".
Shannon Lee, sister of Brandon Lee, expressed her support for the victims, their loved ones and "everyone involved in the incident" on Twitter, adding that "no one should ever be killed by a gun on the set of 'a movie".
A statement from the International Cinematographers Guild, cited by Variety, lamented a "heartbreaking" incident, "a terrible loss" and "the death of a member of the family of our Guild".
© 2021 AFP